A workplace dispute turned violent early Sunday has left three Bowie restaurant employees dead, Prince George's County police said.

"This ultimately was not random," said county Police Chief Hank Stawinski, who briefed reporters on the case at noon Monday. "This was a tragic example of workplace violence and an ongoing conflict between members of the restaurant staff."

Police identified Karlief Moye, 40, of Silver Spring as a suspect in the homicides. Moye, a bartender at the restaurant, is in the hospital after shooting himself twice when officers tired to apprehend him near his home. He is expected to recover.

No charges have been filed against Moye but county police are consulting with county State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks.

Stawinski would not elaborate on the nature of the dispute, which took place at the recently opened Blue Sunday Bar & Grill in the Hilltop Plaza shopping center.

"I'm hesitant to describe that in too much detail," Stawinski said. "That's going to be a key part of the prosecution. But I will say this was an ongoing dispute between the suspect and management."

Police identified the victims as Sherwood Morgan, 46, of Mitchellville; Jin Chen, 27, of Laurel and Xue Zou, 28, of Laurel. Morgan was the manager of the restaurant ; the other two were co-owners, according to police.

Security footage from inside the restaurant led police to focus on Moye, who was located just a few hours after the shooting.

About 2:15 Sunday morning, Bowie police were called to the restaurant at on Race Track Road. They found three men unconscious after being shot, according to police.

Stawinski said someone connected with the restaurant was expecting a call about the evening's receipts after closing. When that call did not come, he looked at the restaurant's surveillance video from home, saw the unconscious employees on the video footage and called Bowie police.

John McNamara / Capital Gazette

A banner hangs from the railing in front of the Blue Sunday Bar & Grill in Bowie, where three men were shot and killed early Sunday morning. The banner says "In Loving Memory" and includes signatures and tributes to the victims. Some left bouquets of flowers, candles and balloons at the restaurant.

A banner hangs from the railing in front of the Blue Sunday Bar & Grill in Bowie, where three men were shot and killed early Sunday morning. The banner says "In Loving Memory" and includes signatures and tributes to the victims. Some left bouquets of flowers, candles and balloons at the restaurant.

Blue Sunday closes at midnight on Saturdays, according to its website. Stawinski said that there was no one else inside the establishment at the time of the shooting — just the four employees.

County police took over the homicide investigation from Bowie police. After viewing the surveillance video from inside the restaurant, officers went to Moye's home in Silver Spring and began searching the area.

"We had high-quality video of the entire crime," Stawinski said. "We have very clear video that clearly shows the act."

Detectives spotted Moye near his home and chased him into a wooded area near Northwest Branch Park about 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

While fleeing, Moye shot himself twice, Stawinski said. He is being treated at a local hospital after police provided him medical assistance.

"That individual is alive today because of the actions of our officers," Stawinski said.

The Blue Sunday opened right after the first of the year, replacing the Olive Grove in the shopping center. The restaurant offered what management called "Asian Fusion" cuisine, including sushi. A grand opening was a little more than a week ago.

Sunday afternoon a memorial banner was hung in front of the restaurant, paying tribute to the victims. Visitors signed the banner and left candles, bouquets of flowers and balloons nearby.

A small placard was taped to the sidewalk in front of the restaurant on Monday morning. The placard read, simply, "Closed."

Another placard was hung on the front door that said, "Crime scene, do not enter."

The homicides were the first of the year in Bowie, city police Chief John Nesky said. He said there was one homicide in the city during 2016 and three in 2015.

He has been with the city police since the department was created in 2006 and couldn't recall another triple-homicide.

"They're fairly rare, thank god," he said. "I don't think there's been one in the history of Bowie – not that I know of."

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call homicide detectives at 301-772-4925 or Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.